Fitting for strain insulators



Dec. 4, 1934. w A HlLLEBRAND r AL 1,983,369

FITTING FOR STRAIN INSULATORS Filed March 16, 1932 my E NTOR$ W////am 4./1///ebrand BY AlberfM Morris.

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FITTING FOR. STRAININSULATORS of New Jersey Application March 16, 1932, Serial No. 599,136

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for connecting electrical insulatorsof a type in which the insulators are provided with perforations throughwhich connecting links are passed to hold the insulators together.

One object of the invention is to provide connectors for insulators ofthe class named which shall be economical to manufacture, easy toinstall and to remove but which will not become detached accidentally.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the classnamed which shall be of improved construction and operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified by the combination and arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawing and described in the followingspecification, and it is more particularly 20. pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of two insulator units having one embodiment ofthe present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the insulators shown in Fig. 1; one of theinsulators being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the insulators shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of fitting.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the fitting shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

In the drawing, the numerals 10 and 11 designate respectively twoinsulators of a well-known form having crossing openings 13 and 14 forreceiving the fittings to connect the insulators together in a string.The insulators are provided with projecting ribs or flanges 15 whichseparate the fittings applied to each insulator and restrict dischargeand leakage currents between the fittings.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a U-shaped yoke16 is provided with arms 17 arranged to extend through the openings 13in the insulators 10 and 11. Each of the arms 17 is provided at its endwith a head 18 of a size v to pass freely through spaced openings 19 ina keeper bar 20. Each of the openings 19 is provided with an outwardlyextending restricted portion 21 of a size to fit the upper end of thearm 17 and to retain the head 18. Before the parts are assembled, thearms 17 are spaced relative to the openings 19 so that the heads 18 aresomewhat closer together than in the drawing. This enables one of theheads 18 to be inserted through one opening 19 and move to the positionshown at the right in Figs. 1 and 2. This will bring the other head 18into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1; the head beingslightly out of registration with the opening 19 but in such a positionthat the edge of the opening rests upon the inclined portion of thehead. In this position a comparatively slight force will spring the headinwardly and permit it to pass through the opening 19, whereupon theresiliency in the arms 17 will return the head to the broken lineposition where it will be retained by the bottom face of the head, whichwill overlap the edge of the opening 19. A light blow from a hammer willsufiice to move the keeper into place over the head 18.

When a load is placed upon the insulator, the arms 17 will then besprung apart until the neck portions of the arms beneath the heads 18will be drawn into the restricted extensions 21 so that the link 1'7 andthe keeper 20 will be firmly locked together. If at any time it isdesired to disconnect 30 the insulators, a proper tool may be used tospring the heads 18 toward each other until they can be withdrawnthrough the openings 19. The arms 17 are properly curved so that theywill pass readily through the openings 13 and will fit the seats 35provided by these openings.

The link 20 as shown in Fig. 3 is preferably curved to fit the groovesin the insulators and the lower faces of the heads 18 may be curved tofit the surface of the link 20.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7, one of theheads 18 is replaced by a nut 22 and one arm is threaded as shown at 23to receive the nut 22. The link 20 is provided with a round opening forreceiving the threaded portion 23. In this form of the invention, theinsulators are assembled on the link as in the previously describedform, and when the keeper 20 placed over the link 17 provided with ahead 18, the threaded portion 23 will register with the circular openingso that the keeper may be readily moved into place and the nut 22applied to hold it in position. A suitable shaped washer 24, shown inFig. 6, may be provided to form a bearing for the nut 22.

We claim:

1. The combination with spaced insulators each having a transverseopening therethrough, of an insulator fitting comprising a yoke havingspaced arms fixed thereto and extending therefrom in 11g approximatelyparallel relation to each other through said respective openings, a headon the end of one of said arms and a, keeper connecting said arms, saidkeeper having an opening through one end thereof of sufiicient size topermit said head to pass through said opening, said opening having arestricted extension for retaining said head in engagement with saidkeeper, and means for fastening the opposite end of said keeper to theother arm, said head being resiliently held by said yoke and arms in aposition displaced from registration with said opening toward therestricted extension thereof when the end of the yoke opposite said headis fastened to said arm, the resiliency of said yoke and arms beingsuflicient to permit said head to be readily sprung into position topass through said opening, said head having a bevelled face for guidingsaid head into said opening.

2. The combination with spaced insulators each having a transverseopening therethrough, of an insulator fitting comprising a yoke havingspaced arms fixed thereto and extending therefrom in approximatelyparallel relation to each other through said respective openings, a headon one of said arms, a keeper connecting said arms, said keeper havingan opening therethrough for receiving said head, said opening beingprovided with a restricted extension for holding said head in engagementwith said keeper, and means for securing said keeper to the other arm ofsaid yoke, said head being held by said yoke and arms in registrationwith said restricted extension when said keeper is secured to said otherarm.

3; The combination with spaced insulators each having a transverseopening therethrough, of an insulator fitting comprising a yoke havinspaced arms extending through the respective openings in said insulatorand provided with heads, at the extremities thereof, and a keeperbridging the space between said arms, said keeper having spaced openingstherethrough to receive said heads, the spacing of the openings and ofsaid heads being such that the parts must, be sprung to assemble saidkeeper on said arms, said openings having restricted extensions toreceive the ends of said arms after said arms have been sprung intoposition and to retain said heads in engagement with said keeper.

WILLIAM A. HILLEBRAND; ALBERT M. MORRIS.

